Date:         Fri, 16 Jul 2004 21:23:42 -0700
Reply-To:     MC <gipsyflies@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         MC <gipsyflies@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Switiching accessorys from main battery to auxilary battery?
Comments: To: Harmon Seaver <hseaver@CYBERSHAMANIX.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20040717003318.GA31555@cybershamanix.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

You may want to consider only switching only the high current consumers
and those operate constantly over to the aux side to minimize the amount
of work.
I switched only the appliances that are used frequently during camping.
This including the fridge fan, audio head unit, CD changer and the audio
amp, the Carver P4 furnace and all the other portable appliances like
cell phone charger, DC/AC inverter, notebook computer etc. I also
fashioned a power distribution panel where I have 4 12V dc outlets for
all the portable accessories. On this panel 2 ports draws from each
battery so I can choose which to use base on their charge.

I recommend leaving the interior lights on the primary side as it
entails a lot of work to move them. They consume relatively little
current and you don't always have them on. I took out 2 of the 3 bulbs
in the factory galley light which I rarely use. Instead I installed 3 5W
halogen marine light from Germany which I found at West Marine. 5W
hardly put a dent on the battery even with extended use.

Unfortunately I didn't keep a record of how I made the switch. I just
did it on the fly with reference to the electrical diagram of the
Bentley manual. What ever you do make sure you always have a fuse as
close to the battery as possible.

- Vince

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Harmon Seaver
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 5:33 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Switiching accessorys from main battery to auxilary battery?


   I'm sure this has been done many times. I put an couple of auxilary
batterys (deep cycle) in my westy, fed by a relay which isolates them
from the starting battery, and now I want to switch the light over the
sink, pump, stereo, etc. over to the auxilary batterys.
   Is there a simple way to do this? Any websites with good diagrams or
pictures, like there are for hooking up the relay and aux batt itself?

 --
Harmon Seaver
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com
Hoka hey!